Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Native Prairie, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Native strain (visible burr-like female seed heads suggest a non-hybridized or female-rich population)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9, exceptional heat tolerance, enters early winter dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50-55°F.
About This Grass
A low-growing, fine-textured grass that reaches 4-8 inches unmowed. It turns a distinct straw-tan color during winter dormancy and a soft blue-green during the growing season. It is dioecious, featuring male flag-like flower spikes and female burr-like seed clusters.
Blade Characteristics
Fine width (1-3mm), soft texture, sparsely hairy (pubescent) leaf surfaces, gray-green to blue-green color. Blades are typically rolled in the bud (vernation), with a short fringe of hairs for a ligule and no auricles.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often extending 5+ feet), highly stoloniferous, low thatch producer, slow to moderate establishment speed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
North American Great Plains (Canada to Mexico)
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via above-ground runners), forms a dense but low-growing sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6-8 hours), extremely low water needs once established, high drought tolerance, prefers well-drained alkaline soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.0-4.0 inches (or left unmowed), low frequency, low fertilization (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), very low maintenance requirements.
Special Characteristics
Excellent drought resistance, high salt tolerance, poor shade tolerance, high traffic tolerance for a native grass, survives extreme temperature fluctuations.
Ecological Information
Native to North America, provides nesting material for birds and forage for grazing wildlife, highly effective for soil stabilization on slopes, non-invasive in its native range.